Müller brothers lead the charge at Desert Storm 5
Kickboxing
The Desert Storm 5 championship hosted over 66 fights last weekend in different categories, including kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, and forms. Fighters from nine countries participated in the event, across more than 150 divisions covering a broad spectrum of weight classes.President of the Namibian kickboxing federation, Anita de Klerk mentioned: "It was our first event in two years. We did not have a lot of events last year, and it was actually on a much bigger scale than expected."
The two-day event began on Friday evening with jiu-jitsu, and on day two, kickboxing took centre stage with point sparring setting the trend for what was to come later in the day.
Among the standout performers were local fighters and brothers Delano Muller and Julian Muller, who fought on the main stage to defend their Sub-Saharan titles.
In the first title fight, the arena buzzed with anticipation as Delano Muller, making his senior debut, faced off against the seasoned Royal Tengezi from Zimbabwe. From the opening bell, Delano maintained his composure, countering Tengezi's attacks with effective defence. Delano aimed for a knockout, but his opponent was determined to go all the way. As the rounds progressed, Delano's agility and endurance were tested, but he continued to showcase his dominance with accurate combinations and counters.
"It was a hard three rounds. I did not expect him to lose all three, especially in the first round I went very hard," Delano said.
In the last title fight of the night, Julian Muller faced Zimbabwean fighter Isaac Klanga. Julian, currently based in Germany, started the first round strong. With seconds left, Klanga proved no match for him, succumbing to a TKO.
"I was training constantly during my preparation time, and the fight was amazing. I am just happy that I came out with a win today," Julian shared.
Lastly, De Klerk expressed her gratitude to all the fighters who participated.
"The victories of Delano and Julian, along with the achievements of all the competitors, symbolize the unity and diversity that define the martial arts community. Here is to the continued growth and success of this event in the years to come," she said.